Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-05
a Eseatlbca Confession.

VOH'i'Si a., tSSSAtiS ~ O4' y L Soi"'Shi
a prominent physician, which clears up &
mystery Of mere than ten years standing.
Three weeks ago Silas Grossly, 2 quarry
hand, was suddenly taken sick, and DR..
trouble 5000 developed into typhoid pneu
monia, and his condition rapidly grew worse.
The sick nau appealed TO the Doctor to
leave nothing undone to bring about g
speedy recovery, as be had horror Of death,
but as his case was hopeless one be desired
to know it, because he had secret to re
veal which he could not take to the grave.
The Doctor said that change which was
expected TO take place In u day or two
would decide his fate. The next day the
patients condition was unchanged, but the
physician told him that if he desired TO
make any preparations for death, religious
or otherwise, he would advise hm 10 do so.
as his disease was necessarily fatal, though
he might linger some time. The dying man
whispered 10 the Doctor to move close to
the bedside and make q memorandum of
what he had to say. The Doctor obeyed
and was astouuded when Crosby said the
confession be had to make was one OF mur-
der-shat be had killed his wife. The Doc
tor suggested the proprlety OF having either
= minister Of the Gospel or an officer of the
! law to witness the confession, but Crosby
said neither waH necessary. Ee then told
the following story
My full name Is SIas Aaron Crosby, and
I am an Epglishman by birth. Soon after
arriving il this country we came to Preston
vllo, where have resided and woSled
ever since. The family consisted Of myself
and wife, and Hiram BellingtoD, . fellow
countrymRD, who took passage with Us, and
! who remained with me until the night Of
10Y wjfe'a death. Relington was a co.abor.
er OF mine, and we were much attached to
| each other was married before | came to
this country. My wife's name was Sarah
| FarnsWorth. The union was not g happy
! one, and | spent much OF my time 10 medi-
tatiag over tho best means TO get rid OF my
wife without jeopevdiziDg my own personal
safety. Belington was bitterly opposed to
her, and frequently made the remark that if
he wGs in my place he would get rid Of her.
! ] was encouraged by these remarks, because
| knew if wanted bis assistance 10 get her
ont of the wGy it would be all right. We
talked frequently thereafter about the mat
te,. but nothing definite vas settled upon.
Il was, however, decided ihat Bellington
should be ~ ier company at the house as
rucA as possible, that | might truDp up
false charges of inGdeiitg asa;ast her. But
his em0puted TO nothing, as she deiantly
rsiuted the charges and more frequent quar-
,els was the result. The trouble and un.
happiness Of the household were known to
no oue outside EyeH theimmediste neigh
bors were unaware Of toe trouble, es my wife
visited 10 one and vas ee!Gom seen with q
neehhor IN the early part OF September,
f-N ~ fhnp
moody state of mind. aud began fault-fnd-
inc the moment entered the house. Bel
lington was with me- A quarrel be.
tween myself and wife arose, when, in
moment of passion, [ rushed ST
her and getting 10y hands tightly
around her throat l choked her TO death.
When we found thatslif was extinct we car
ried the body up stairs and laid 1t on The
ted. and then discussed the best way 70 dis
pose Oft Bellington said that es | nad
killed her he would dispose of the remains,
and TO throw off suspicion he would leave
town immediately, and the story ofan elope.
ment of Mrs. Sias Crossby with Henry Bel
iine,oa would cover up the whole affair.
Bellinetou carried the body away between
and o'clock in the morning, and said 1t
was ell right. He buried it in one OF the OLD
abandoned quarries, which have long since
been filed 10 with refuse. Bellington dress
ed himself and left the town. Before going,
however, he wrote letter, supposed TO be
dictated BY Mrs. Crosby, to me, and left it
in her room, as we all occupied separate
rooms. The letter gave IN detail iui' &C.
count of her unbapp!ness with me, ana IN
substance stated the reason OF her going
away with BeliDgton %es TO escape the
abuse and persecution of tyrannicai nus
baud / retiredto bed after Belli0gton lett,
out the struggles of dying woman were
continually before me. The next morning
| buried out to the neighbor's and to some OF
nv working companions and informed them
OF Bellington's treachery in eloping with
ny wife, ana produced the letter referred
TO, which / characterized as Belilngton's
own work. The circumstances OF the sup
posed elopement and the excitement of that
c morning are still fresh in the minds OF the
: people here. but my life has been most
= wretched one. was continually haunted
by her appearance. both at hUme and al
work, and several times seriously thought
: Of giving myself up TO the authorizes
and suffer the penalty Of my crime
The story of the elopement worked well
, No one doubted the truth of it, because
Bellington's absence confirmed it. Nevei
having any children, disposed OF what fur
3 niture had and went boarding Beliing
! ton promised when he left that he wou!t
5 keen me posted as to his movements an(
, whereabouts, but have never heard any
thing from him since. His silence, If he i
not dead, would seem to indicate that b
: was glad to get away on account of wha
: happened, and did not intend to write
keep me posted"
I'D